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Fazeley Studios opens with the promise of 500 jobs Special Report on landmark event... Digbeth welcomed its latest home for the digital and creative industries recently, with the official launch of cfnx's impressive Fazeley Studios development. Over 500 key industry figures gathered for the landmark event to find out about the state-of-the-art hub which, when full, could house up to 40 growing firms employing in excess of 500 people. Advantage West Midlands, working in partnership with the East Birmingham North Solihull Regeneration Zone (ebns), invested gap funding of £2.2m into making the visionary scheme possible. Graham Edwards, Chief Executive of ebns, said: "Digbeth has an important role to play in the future development of Birmingham's creative industries. This is why we, along with Advantage West Midlands, have made it a priority for support, working with developers to offer new space for businesses. It is exactly this kind of state-of-the-art facility we are trying to encourage through our Strategic Investment Plan, which focuses on creating growth through new enterprise." "The digital and creative Industries can really help to push enterprise in the City and we have to do everything we can to make sure we invest in projects that will foster this culture and allow it to develop even further," explained Mark Foley, AWM's Partnership Director for Birmingham. "Fazeley Studios embodies all of these characteristics and, thanks to the vision of Lucan Gray and his company cfnx, Birmingham now has a high quality development that rivals anything else the UK can offer." Following a painstaking two year restoration, the building opened its 130 year-old reception doors in December 2008 and is already 60% full with businesses working across art, film, design, PR, marketing, advertising, podcasting and modelling. The studio offices and high-tech event space form the backbone of the 1.25 acre development, which also features a magnificent gothic Unitarian chapel styled reception area, landscaped courtyard, winter garden, brasserie, games room, yoga studio and mini gym. It is also home to Ikon's Eastside Gallery. The launch event featured a fashion show by Harvey Nichols, Gavin Douglas and Sulaimi Brookman, film screenings by the Ikon Gallery and a music photography exhibition by Pogus Caesar.

ebns helps MADE celebrate its 5th birthday in style Midlands Architecture and the Designed Environment (MADE) celebrated its 5th birthday last Wednesday with a special event in Birmingham that featured some of the industry's biggest names. Hosted by Fazeley Studios and supported by ebns, 'The Art and Architecture of Place' started with a walking tour of Digbeth by urban designer Joe Holyoak and then was followed by a masterclass from FAT's Sean Griffiths. Following these interactive insights, the celebration moved indoors for an Evening Reception that was led by keynote addresses from Glen Howells (Chair of Made) on the 'role of the architect in place making' and Bennie Gray of Custard Factory fame. The event also celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Skills that can get the funding 25 people from six partner organisations have received a major boost in helping to secure European Regional Developing Funding (ERDF) thanks to an innovative training scheme run by ebns. Participants from Aston Science Park, Birmingham City Council, Centro, Colebridge Trust, Tribal Consulting and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council received expert advice and practical support on 'managing the application process', in order to secure investment for future projects. The interactive workshops included assistance with filling in the forms effectively, understanding eligibility, demonstrating project management, options generation and marketing. Julia Herdman, Programme and Finance Manager at ebns, led the training sessions: "The ERDF application is complex and very time consuming and we wanted to give our partners every opportunity to learn new skills to help them fill the forms in more effectively." "After all, there is a considerable amount of money available and we have to ensure we are well placed to secure the investment we need for East Birmingham and North Solihull."

Thank you for your time.

ebns
www.ebns.co.uk